Vice commander discusses future of base

While Holloman Air Force Base will participate in the active duty force reduction ahead nationally, the vice commander of the base south of Alamogordo, sees growth and a solid future for the base.

He also spoke of the good relationship between the military and surrounding communities.

"We trace our roots back to 1942, when we were a research and development base for the Army Air Corps," Col. Kenneth P. Ekman told Lincoln County commissioners Tuesday. "We've long had a history of supporting development for the Department of Defense for certain weapon systems. More recently in 1968, we became a fighter wing and that's kind of how folks think of us."

The base received F-4s, the Phantom fighter used in Vietnam, from Europe and the Stealth fighter, F-117, was stationed there until its departure in 2008, he said. "We're squarely in a new era for Holloman as the premiere remotely piloted aircraft training base and we're also home to an F-22 (Raptor) operational squadron," Ekman said.

Eighteen tenant organization beside the fighter wing cohabitate on the base covering everything from a primate facility to the 96th Test Group for high-speed sled track testing, navigation and guidance system testing, radar signature measurements and weapon systems flight testing to the German Air Force Test Center, Ekman said. "We just provide them buildings and (air) space," he said.

Priorities

In terms of priority, the base's first is as a premiere training center for unmanned aircraft, he said. "Business is really good," Ekman said.

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"They're called drones in the media, but we use remotely piloted aircraft. They are having a big impact on the world. In 2010, we graduated 150 air crew and sent them straight from Holloman to combat missions (primarily in Afghanistan and Iraq). In 2013, we had over 300 aircrews, so we more than doubled and we are operating at maximum capacity."

The base also maintains about 20 percent of the Department of Defense's combat F-22s. "Our F-22 squadron just returned from a record-breaking 292 day deployment in the Middle East. What we learned through this deployment is when we put airplanes with that capability on foreign soil, our adversaries sit up straight," he said.

The F-22s will stay at Holloman for another year before being moved to another base in Florida, the colonel said.

The second priority is taking care of the airmen and their families, Ekman said. "We have 300 airman deployed around the world at any one time, most are in Afghanistan right now," he said.

They are sent combat ready for as long as a year to meet the needs of combatant commanders, he said. While they are gone, their families are taken care of with a full level of services. Educational opportunities also are provided to the airmen, "because many people join partly because of that promise."

In addition, about 12,000 people in Alamogordo and the Tularosa Basin rely on the base, shop there and are tied to military retirement and benefits. Base officials continue to modernized facilities, tearing out what is not needed and improving roads.

The future

The current fiscal environment with mandated military budget cuts is impacting Holloman today, Ekman said.

"It's not unusual for a post-war drawdown by the DOD and we're part of that," he said. He's most concerned about the 2,000 civilians who work on or for the base, and who must take 22 days of furlough within the year.

"It's humbling, because as a commander I'm used to solving problems, but with regards to furloughs, I have no choice," Ekman said. He appreciates their service and is sorry they have to weather the average loss of $7,700 this year, he said. "It's a sign of the times as we contract and as the DOD comes to terms with the nation's fiscal plight."

The active duty Air Force will drop from 332,000 to 329,000, and Holloman will experience some small reductions as part of that cut, he said. "But for most part, this is as low as it will ever be with 3,600 active duty right now at Holloman. And there are signs of growth," Ekman said.

Growth and change, he clarified. The F-22 squadron will move to Tyndall AFB in Florida in the spring of 2014. They will be replaced with two F-16 Fighting Falcon multiple role jet training squadrons from Luke AFB in Glendale, Ariz.

"It will be kind of exciting, a new chapter for the 49th wing," he said. "The F-16s will be a tenant. We will have no direct control. We will provide the runways, air space and the installation for the families. There will be about 700 active duty and their families. Holloman's footprint will start to climb again.

"The German Air Force Flight Test Center is a neat partnership. Who would have thought in southern New Mexico, we have would have 1,000 German citizens living and working and flying airplanes." While the German base population is at a low point today, a squadron of 24 Eurofighters will be arriving, along with 300 people, he said. The Germans are shopping for an unmanned aircraft such as the MQ9 Reaper formerly known as the Predator B used by the United States.

Sonic booms

Ekman explained that the F-22 is unique among airplanes because to perform correctly, it requires incredible speeds and breaking the sound barrier.

"We try to minimize the impact in several ways," Ekman said. When possible, the pilots fly in the west corridor over White Sands Missile Range. When that air space is not available and they must fly in the east corridor, sonic booms and supersonic maneuvers are not allowed over Ruidoso, Carrizozo and Alamogordo. But occasionally while trying to replicate combat conditions, pilots make mistakes, he said.

Commission Chairman Jackie Powell assured Ekman while she doesn't like sonic booms, she's willing to suffer the inconvenience to ensure that pilots are trained to perform at maximum efficiency in the F-22. Ekman said when a sonic boom occurs, the base welcomes input to pinpoint what pilots are responsible and to learn from their mistakes.

Commissioner Kathryn Minter asked several questions about water conservation practices on base, alternate energy source programs and modernization of the facility. Ekman said base officials work hard to ensure a reliable power source on base, especially because of the remote craft reliance. No decisions have been made about a biomass power plant, he said. "As for looking at renewable and sustainable energy, it makes sense to look. We're just not there yet," he said.

As for water, the base relied on 17 wells in the area. In the aftermath of the Little Bear Fire, which destroyed the Bonito watershed and contaminated Alamogordo's reservoir there, "We assessed the cost, but have not done anything to provide the ability to pump water uphill from the base to the community (Alamogordo)," he said. The project carried a $7 million price tag, "and the business case isn't there."

Ekman also reviewed the annual Holloman Big Give when hours of volunteer labor is dedicated to community projects, while also raising money for charity. Commissioner Mark Doth asked Ekman to consider helping Ruidoso with cutting and disposal of trees burned in the Little Bear Fire. Ekman said he would look at the situation.

"It's not just about Alamogordo," he said. "We cultivate relationships with Cloudcroft, Ruidoso and Lincoln County."